In case you’re living in the dark when it comes to the wonders of pre-planned public transportation timing, we put together a quick guide to help you pick the perfect Chicago public transit tracking app.
Transit Stop: CTA Tracker
Free for iPhone
App Store Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The Transit Stop app includes arrival time estimates in minutes (2 minutes) and times (3:16pm). You can also view a bus’ location by map (unfortunately this doesn’t work for trains) and find your route by scrolling through bus number or train line, and save the routes you use most for easy access. See CTA service routes for whichever bus or train you’re tracking, and refresh arrival times by touching the button, or if enabled, refresh by shaking your device.
RedEye
Free for iPhone and Android
App Store Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Google Play Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
The RedEye mobile app claims to have “everything a Chicago commuter needs,” starting with the bread and butter of any transit app: Bus and Train Tracker. The tracker’s interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, minus the occasional crash. And in case you need a bit of entertainment for your L ride, the app features CTA News and a Metromix bar and restaurant guide. And just in case you spot your soulmate on the morning commute, RedEye’s got you covered with a special CTA edition of Missed Connections.
Buster
$1.99 for iPhone
App Store Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Buster seems to be a Chicago favorite in the transit app department because of its attractive interface. The app includes your basic train and bus tracker features, with the ability to save favorite routes, including multiple lines from different stations. Users can also use GPS to look up the closest stop to their current location. One feature that is unique to Buster is the ability to set reminders 5 or 1o minutes before the bus arrives to avoid missing your ride.
HopStop
Free for iPhone and Android
App Store Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Google Play Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
HopStop works in dozens of cities in the US, Canada and Europe, so if you’re a traveler, this is the app for you. It gives you directions from your current location using GPS, then provides several transit options including subway, bus, walking, taxi and bike. It even estimates travel time and cost for taxis and automatically gives you cab company phone numbers. And if you opt to walk, bike or take public transit, HopSpot will tell you how many calories you burned and how many carbon emissions you save.
